With Social Security and retirement benefits unable to keep up with inflation, and persons living longer than ever in this country, retirement at age 65 or younger may no longer be a desirable choice for millions of older workers. These themes were articulated by government officials and foundation officers at the first session of a U.S. Senate hearing on work after 65, held in Washington, D.C., in April, 1980. In the hearing, witnesses from the Center on Work and Aging, American Institutes for Research; the Gerontology Research Institute, University of Southern California; the Center for Studies in Social Policy, the Work in America Institute; the National Council on Aging; and the President's Commission on Pension Policy, along with Senators Lawton Chiles, Pete Domenici, John Heinz, and Charles Percy, testified that the demographic picture of the United States will show a much greater number of older persons after the turn of the next century, as compared to today. This population, if early-age retirements continue, will place a great strain on the resources of the country for support. At the same time, witnesses noted, many thousands of older workers are both capable and desirous of continuing on the job, or at least being employed part time. Efforts must be made to change both public policy and public opinion to both permit and encourage older workers to continue to be employed, according to the witnesses, with benefits from such a policy accruing to both the older persons and the economy of the country. (KC)

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